BRASS BANDS CONTEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17876, 5 March 1920, Page 6

BRASS BANDS CONTEST.

FOURTH DAY. The Brass Bands oontest was continuod at His Majesty's Theatre and Burns Hall yesterday, Mr P. Jones judging at the former, and Mr 13. Strattan at the latter place. One feature of tho competitions has been tho very largo proportion of withdrawals from most, if not all, competitions. In view of the large number of entries, very considerable extra assistance had to toe provided ior, and this, owing to withdrawals to an unusuul degree, has proved quite unnecessary. This extra assistance involved extra expenditure, ' which might have been easily avoided it intending competitors—a good many of whom ►probably never intended to oompete—had realised what was at stake in tho way of trouble and expense. In all sorts ot' competitions too many persons enter "for fun," and with the quite laudable intention of "booming!' whatever it may be, but there is a penalty for this which falls directly on tho shoulders of an executive, and indirectly upon the shoulders of those who bring about what is an undesirable result. This entrance and withdraw-ill lias been very much in evidence in connection with the bands' oontest. One instance yesterday is sufficient in proof of that. In tho B flat cornet solo the total entries were 63, and of that number only 13 competed. It ought to bo remembered that the executive is committed to a heavy expenditure, and that the funds — by no moans a certain or established quantity —ought to be conserved as far as possible. ' Bandsmen will perhaps be impressed by what ,is only a commonsense view, and not involve an unnecessary outlay in the. future. So far a great deal of enjoyment has been provided the general public by the maisio supplied by the bandsmen, and muoh more is to follow. No one will suggest that many examples of excellent playing that would not have been heard but for tho competitions have been heavd, and that the musical" conception and tasto of the community have been elevated as a-consequence. That is one of the most valuablo of many points that can be urged in favour of competitions. Yesterday's playing was restricted to solo work'until the evening, when many of the bands were heard in His Majesty's Theatre in' the firpt test selection for the A Grade. The selections were culled from Meyerbeer's opera "Roberto Diabolo." The morning attd afternoon sessions at His Majesty's Theatre and Burns Hall were not yery numerously for lack of interest, but because business and household duties do not always permit of people' following tlieir inclinations. While , the solo work during ihe day had plenty to commend it, and was attractive, it was in the evening, at His Majesty's Theatre, that the greates musical relish/was provided. A good many , people, especially musical people, are more or less familiar with Meyerbeer's great operatic work, the beauty of which is in itself a guarantee of enjoyment. And Jt has to be ■ admitted that in several instances at least the interpretations, if not perfect, v/ere ; least such as would prove to any audience. The judge (Mr Jones) will have his comments to make later on when the second test is completed. Following at-e the day results: — TENOR TROMBONE SOLO, own selection. First prize, srold medal; second prize, silver medal. A. M. Wills (Invercargill Hibernian), 43 1 .T. Sara (12th Nelson and Marlborough), .39 ... ; 2

Other oompctitors: W-. Lanham (Wo<;l----ston) 36, A. Stewart (Kaikorai) 35. L. Tunnioliffe (Blenheim) 36, , S. Trowneon ' (Wanganui) 35; R. Osten (Kaikorai) 33, A Sullivan (Dannevirke) 32. R. Coughlan (St. Kilda) 31, C. Oben (St. Kilda) 00, K. L. Pettitt (Maori Hill) 25. Mr Jones (tho judge) 'Said that when speaking about tho twos ho 'commented on tho quality of one of the trombones i-s a caricature of real trombone playing. He had to-day mot with the some thing in two instances'. These : players were on the wrong track altogether. ' Tho trombone was meant to be played as a trombone, not as a tenor horn. The impression this sort of playing made on him was similar th what on© would get if someone attempted to imitate the trombone with the aid of a fine ■ tooth-comb and a piece of paper. _ It produced a certain quality of cramping whioh was unpleasant. The tone should flow freely. Five performers chose " Lend Mo Your Aid." Nono of these performances appealed to him at all. They did not gragp the meaning of that groat recitative. Tho player placed first played " Songbirds." his playing stood out; its only weakness was bad slurring. B PLAT CORNET SOLO (Own. selection). First prizo gold medal, second prizo silver, medal. 'B Wills (Invercargill Hibernian Band), 93.: ... ... ... 1 W. PI. Osborne ;Bth South Canterbury '■ Mounted Rifles Band), 96 ...... 2 The other competitors were P. Reeves (9th Hawke's Bay) 95, S. Williams (Woolston) 94, F. Lound (Palmerston North) 92, R. 6hilion (Christchuich Tramways Band) 90. R. G. Allen (2nd South Canterbury Regiment) 90, J; Campbell ( Christohurch Tramways Band) 86, J. Humphries (Invercargill Hibernian)' 85, G. Humphries (Invercargill Hibernian Band) 80, F. Pollett (Kaikorai) 80, and G. Christie (St. Kilda) 80. In this contest, which, was judged by Air E.- Stratton, that gentleman commented on a want of attention to detail. That was marked. Another thing was that piar.o and forte passages were 1.0 a large extent neslected. In cadenza the notes were not run on quickly and clearly as they might have been. In speaking of the performance of tho winner (B. Wills) he said ii had given him very great pleasure to listen to it. It was the finest interpretation of the piece he had ever listened to. His Majesty's Theatre was totally inadequate to 'accommodate all of those desirous of hearing the first test selection in the A Grade, and many, had to be refused admission.. The selection from Meyerbeer's " Roberto Diabolo" was well chosen. It affords openings and opportunities for a display of much that was beyond mere dexterity of playing. Th e music is full of meaning which can only be adequately expressed by a fins conception as to methods of interpretation, and, some of the bands that played did not seem to be , fully possessed of the requisite knowledge to completely attain the desired end. (Eleven bands competed, the first to submit to the test being the 10th Mounted ; Regimental Band, which hails from Blenheim. It cave a most creditable performance, in wnich there was ample light and shade. It was a vigorous rendering the band gave, and tho judge will probably have no occasion to complain of tho playing being " sluggish," as he has done in some of the solo It is possible that the cavatina which is given to the cprnet might have been improved upon. The St. Kilda Municipal Band gave out the opening of the selection with fine declamatory effect, but unfortunately something appeared to go wrong with the keys of the cornet at the very opening of the cavatina with a rather disagreeable result. The defect was, however,, only transitory. Tho passage that follows tho cavatina was somewhat tamely played, but -the fault' was remedied, and there was a noticeable improvement from that_ on to what may be regarded as a .brilliant finish. Much was expected from the Wanganui Garrison Band, which certainly did not disappoint its admirers. Thero was plenty of good ton© in the forto passages, which were well brought out with out the performance becoming deafening. This was conspicuous in the rrtassive chords in tho earlier portion of tho selection. The solo work was more than creditable, and when the band was playing full there was a good balance kept. The Dominion Band from Invercargill got some nice crisp effects into its playing, but in. tho fort© passages was inclined to be "stormy." The soprano air from the opera was well played, and tho slight break tho cornetist made was not sufficient to seriously impair the result Tho euphonium put in a few broken notes very soon afterwards. The cornet in tho 12th Nelson and Marlborough Regimental Band did not always sound as if it was true to pitch in the cavatina. There was just a suspicion that it was not always true, though it was not very noticeable. Tho tirrw in which the selection was taken differed from that adopted by some of the other bands competing. The performance of the Invercargill Hibernian Band was full of vitality, and, where permissible there was a great swing about it The \ Band of , the South Canterbury Regiment, which was arranged on tho stage somewhat differently from the other bands, gavo a particularly fino performance. It was free from that roughness of tone not infrequently heard in band playing, and the interpretation of tho solection was an artistic one, and was notable for fino finish. The band got all the weight and emphasis that was required, and excellent effects by quieter methods than those often employed. Tho eolo work was highly commendable, and the wholo performance consistently meritorious. Tho Lyttelton Marine Band did not produce staccato effects as well as it might 'have done, and played 1 in a rather measured style. Portions of tho seleotion were not played in a sufficiently sharply defined manner. They -were not decisive and clear cut. The time observed was somewhat slow. Tho Palmerston North Municipal Band began in a rather leisurely manner, and tho majesty of the opening was not consequently as fully brought out as it mig'hfc have been. It was in the lighter portions of the selection that the band was

heard at its best. The Kaikorai received fully as warn) a welcome as the other bands, and certainly scorcd a success, 'llio porformanco it gave was very far from being a monotonous ono. There was nioe discrimination 4is to the varied treatment nooessary. and permissible liberty was taken with thi> time for tho sake of elfect. There was always plenty of tone without boisterous playing, and delicacy was observed where required without a sonso of feebleness of expression being imparted to the listener. Tho Woolston Brass Band exhibited lino combination all through. The instrumentalists seemed to understand l that while they had a place to fill it was only by unity and not by individual effort that tho best result was to bo obtained. That vraa perhaps the principal reason why the band gave bo satisfactory a performance. Florid and/ fine work were alike well handled. It was a little unfortunate tliat once or twice the solo, or for tho timo being prominent instrument, should have produocd a broken note. Tho result of this contest, connected with which the prizes are £250, £125, £75, and £50, will bo decided to-night when the second test selection (Wagner's "Works) will bo played. . THE COMING PROGRAMME. His Majesty's Theatre will no doubt be packed this evening, when the final selection, "Wagner's Works," of_ the A Grade contest will be played. This should provide a delightful evening's entertainment, as some Yery high-class performances were put up by the bands last night; and tonight's selection should bo still more popular with the audience, being the choicest selections from Wagner's works. At the conclusion of the contest the winners will be announced.

On Saturday afternoon the_ military display and quickstep contest -will take _place at the Caledonian Grounds, and this is expected to attract a record attendance. Over 20 bands •will be talcing part in this competition, and this contest should provide one of the best spectacular displays ever witnessed on the Caledonian Grounds. The pirblio is recommended to secure tickets in town, and thus save the crush at tho gates. At His Majestv's Theatre on Saturday evenfng the grand final demonstration will be held, when tho choicest items of the contest will be presented by the winners. This should provide a delightful evening's programme. The box plan is at tho Bristol. Quickstep tickets are obtainable at tho Bristol, Messrs C. Bcgg and Co., Otago Sports Depot., Mr S. Jaeobs's. Patrons are recommended to book their _ seats for tonight, and thus save disappointment.